Saul: Persecuted Proclaimer

Introduction:

How do we know when someone truly believes?

What should persuade other believers that we should be welcomed among their ranks?

Should it just be our word? Should it reign supreme among other believers?

What might warrant healthy skepticism?

In last week’s study, we learned Saul left Jews in Damascus bewildered with his case that Jesus is Messiah.

Acts 9:20

Acts 9:22

This week’s study will give us two different places that show similar treatment of Saul.

Damascus

Jerusalem.

We will see how the persecutor becomes the proclaimer of the message he persecuted.

We will also see how those in Jerusalem react to him.

Saul Endangered in Damascus

After some time, the Jews decided to kill Saul.

Note the similar language to what the council wished to do to all the apostles.

So far, the use of the term “kill” has a consistent usage in Acts with the exception of one occasion in Acts 7:21 where it retains it literal meaning of “take up.” Pharaoh’s daughter took Moses out of the river and raised him as her own son. At this point, the other times are used of:

Jesus: Acts 2:23

Peter and John: Acts 5:33

Theudas the Galilean revolutionary: Acts 5:36

The Israelites to Moses after he killed the Egyptian: Acts 7:28

Saul learned of their decision enabling him to keep himself out of harm’s way.

However, just leaving now became impossible because they watched the gate day and night so they might kill him.

Consequently, the disciples put him in a large basket and lowered him down through an opening in the city wall.

Jerusalem’s Skeptical Reception

We must be careful to think through what Luke does. It is very similar to what happens in the Gospels. His goal is less to give chronology of all precise details and more to show evidence of something else. He wants to show two things:

Saul has consistent, persecuted proclaimer.

Saul accepted by the disciples in Damascus and Jerusalem. The previous one reinforces this point. Barnabas, however, became important for giving him additional bona fides in Jerusalem.

Even in Jerusalem he faced opposition.

It first came from the disciples who were afraid of him not believing him to be a disciple.

Note that Luke explains, in Acts 9:26, that Saul was trying (note the imperfect) to join himself to the disciples.

They did not just accept his word.

What evidence would persuade them that he was genuinely one of them?

Barnabas has a pivotal role.

He took him to the apostles:

He explained to them the full situation.

“How he saw the Lord on the road and that he spoke to him.”

How, in Damascus, he spoke openly in the name of Jesus.

This provides the first evidence.

Saul Endangered in Jerusalem

This then permits Luke to show Saul’s consistency:

He was with them entering and exiting Jerusalem (whatever that means), and he showed the same boldness/courage in Jerusalem that he showed in Damascus.

This mirrored behavior results in a similar situation, namely, the Hellenists in Jerusalem want to kill him just like the Jews did in Damascus.

Once again, through someone being made aware of the plot to kill Saul, the brothers get him out of the city unto Caesarea and from there, they sent him to Tarsus.

Saul proved himself as someone who spoke openly about Jesus.

They had to send him to Tarsus for his safety and perhaps everyone else’s.